By Louise and the KTD196 Dream Team | Jack of all trades, master of none!
Greetings and welcome to another update from the field.
In May of 2021 I shared about a new program we were implementing called Self Help Groups (SHG) and I thought it was time for an update!
First, however, let me give some background on the process. KTD196 has employed two Community Facilitators and a Project Officer to enable this program to start. All three as a team go to different communities in and around the Shiluvane area. They visit with the Induna (Village Chief) to share about the new program and to seek permission to initiate this program in the village where the Induna presides. The Induna identifies different very poor households for the team to approach to participate in the program.
Next, the team go house to house, speaking to the different households. The key to this program is to create a group of 20 ladies all from the poorest households, who are willing to attend a meeting to discuss the SHG approach; and to invite them to participate.
After reaching a minimum of 20 ladies the team hold a meeting to discuss the process of the SHG. Most people already belong to Storkvels (an indigenous saving scheme where people bring a certain amount of money each week, borrow against the savings, and return with interest the money borrowed). The difference between SHG and Storkvels is that the money remains in the groups, at the end of the year the money is not dispersed back to zero and then the process starts again. With SHG, the money remains with the group, there is no end-of-year distribution. This is so that eventually, after saving R2 per week ($0.13USD) the accumulation with interest becomes large enough that people can open their own businesses eventually and have the cash flow to be able to send their children to university.
This is a different approach and what is also unique is the ladies decide what they want to do with the money, they also operate and take ownership of the group, eventually, KTD196 will be able to withdraw from weekly support once the ladies have been trained in money management, meeting and minute taking, agenda and constitution creation. Ultimately, the ladies will create their own small businesses and be independent of the state.
Once there are 20 SHGs they will form the next level of management called Clusters where they can start negotiating with the government for services to their villages.
This program has been operating since June this year, currently, there are 5 active groups. Sadly, 4 other areas have been mobilized and the ladies have decided not to take advantage of this opportunity.
Where the program has been successful the ladies are very excited about the money growing on a weekly basis, they even dance and celebrate when it is time to borrow because oftentimes, there is no other way for them to access this kind of money unless they go to the Macheronies or money lenders who charge as much as 50% interest a week.
Hope is slowly returning, because of you!
Your support has enabled this program to run. We are changing livelihoods, destinies, and futures through your support. Children from very poor families will be able to attend University, the poverty cycle will be broken. No more dependence on government grants for survival. No more periods of hunger. No more having to choose who to feed and who goes without. No more going barefoot in winter, no more feeling the cold at night because blankets can be bought. This is all because of you!
THANK YOU for your generosity and your giving. You are making such a difference through your support. In the near future, you will receive an email requesting your support on a monthly basis. A small amount goes such a long way in South Africa. I am asking that you consider this request and be a part of creating lasting positive change for children, women, families, and whole communities.
Thank you in advance
Louise
"This project is so good, it has opened my eyes and has made me think differently about money" - Angel
"Now I can buy food and school books for my children. I want to start a chicken project so that I can feed my children and others. I am 54yrs old, I want to own my own brand new dress and not have hand downs anymore." - Mametja
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can recieve an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
